Hyde5: Five amazing stats from Game 1 (Birdman sets record)

May 23, 2013|Dave Hyde

After Game 1, I wrote my column on how two old myths about the Heat - LeBron can't close, Erik Spoelstra can't coach - were completely extinguished. Here are five numbers from the crazy night of basketball that jump out:

1. The Birdman’s seven-for-seven shooting was a Heat playoff record for perfection. The previous record was Alonzo Mourning going six-for-six in a game. No doubt inspired by my column on him Wednesday (“What article?” he said when someone mentioned it to him asked after the game), Chris Andersen showed why he was such an important addition this year. He had 16 points, three blocks and three offensive rebounds (five overall) in 18 minutes. In short, he can defend at the rim and score near the basket. Those are things the Heat’s big men have problems doing. Udonis Haslem was one-of-six for two points, no blocked shots and seven rebounds in 20 minutes.

2. Why Indiana coach Frank Vogel surely regrets not having 7-2 Roy Hibbert on the floor at the end of the game: In the 38 minutes Hibbert was in the game with LeBron, James took just three shots at the rim (within five feet of the basket) and made two. In the nine minutes he played without Hibbert there, LeBron took six shots in close and made five. But let's not overdo this. LeBron had 10 assists. Many of those were him dishing to Birdman when Hibbert stepped out to stop LeBron. That's just smart basketball.

3. The Heat shot 27.8 percent on 3-point shots. Mario Chalmers made both his 3-pointers in Game 1. The rest of the team? Three for 16. The 3-point shot is a big part of the Heat offense, and Game 1 continued post-season problems in shooting from distance for most players. The 33 percent rate in the playoffs is bolstered by Norris Cole shooting 67 percent the previous series, including his final eight straight. Ray Allen was one of four in Game 1. After missing his four from distance Wednesday, Shane Battier is shooting 22.2 percent for the playoffs. There will be a regression to the mean – Battier won’t keep shooting like that – but the question is when they get back to form.

4. Both teams had 20 turnovers. For Indiana, that’s no unusual, as they ranked fifth in the league in turnovers. For the Heat? They were among the league’s best, averaging 13.3 turnovers a game this regular season. They had 13 in the first half. And it was everyone, as in the first half all nine players who stepped on the court had at least one turnover. Indiana is the league's best defensive team - but that number is something the Heat will talk about on the off day.

5. LeBron had his ninth career triple double – 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Why is he the best player in the game? If those numbers don’t tell enough, watch the final 2.2 seconds again.